It is normally said that justice delayed is justice denied. However, when the daughter of Neelkanth Ganjoo, Urmila Raina got to know about the Indian government’s decision to bring to justice those who committed this heinous crime, she hailed the move and said, “This is good news. I just want the culprit terrorists to be arrested and convicted for killing my father. No Government till now heard us.”
However, “It’s too little too late after 34 years of the incident. Now we don’t want our wounds to be scraped again,” SK Ganjoo, the son of the slain former judge, told the mediapersons.
Reopening of case reignites sense of optimism among the community
Ganjoo’s granddaughter, Swapna Raina said that the reopening of the over three decades old case brings a “ray of hope”. Speaking further on the issue, “Indian government’s decision to revisit the 1989-90 Kashmiri Hindu genocide cases after 34 yrs, evokes a mixed of emotions for me. Among these cases, the first one to be reopened is of my beloved grandfather Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo. Who fell victim to JKLF terrorists on Nov 4, 1989. This decision has reignited in me a sense of optimism for my community as well. This optimism had rained over the past thirty-three years as we longed for people to finally hear, acknowledge, empathise and grasp the ordeal that we Kashmiri Hindus have gone through,” she said.
In a personalised video message, Raina said that she is hopeful that the reopening of Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo’s case will be one of the hundreds of cases that will follow and will bring some sense of relief and enclosure for the families, who are waiting for justice to be served.
Reacting to the reopening of the probe into the over three-decades case, Kashmiri Pandit writer and political activist Agnishekar said, “Genocide has happened to Kashmiri Pandits. This is one big thing, justice should be done for Neelkanth Ganjoo, who was reportedly killed by Yasin Malik, leader of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).
SIA reopens inquiry into murder of Neelkanth Ganjoo, seeks public help
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) in Jammu and Kashmir initiated a fresh investigation into the 1989 murder of retired judge Neelkanth Ganjoo, marking a significant step towards seeking justice for the long-standing case.
The agency, in a statement, appealed to the public to come forward and share accounts of events to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the murder. The agency said it was relying on any leads which could have a direct bearing on the case.
“In order to unearth the larger criminal conspiracy behind the murder of Retired Judge, Neelkanth Ganjoo three decades ago, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has appealed to all persons familiar with facts or circumstances of this murder case to come forward and share any account of events which has a direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case,” read a statement from the SIA.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA), through a communique, has appealed to all persons familiar with facts or circumstances of this murder case to come forward and share any account of events which has direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case.
The communique further adds that the identity of all such persons shall be kept completely hidden and protected besides all useful and relevant information shall be suitably rewarded. The public has been asked to contact on 8899004976 or on email sspsia-kmr@jkpolice.gov.infor having any information related to this murder case.
Neelkanth Ganjoo, a high court judge in Kashmir, was assassinated on November 4, 1989.
Three militants surrounded Ganjoo as he was in the Hari Singh Street market and shot him dead near the Srinagar High Court.
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